The main reason Parks and Recreation became such a beloved sitcom was its characters. These folks who made Pawnee a better place were so much fun to follows throughout the show's seven seasons. Fans were always cheering for the main characters and loved seeing them get the happy ending they deserved.
Not all of the character arcs on the show were overly satisfying. Some seemed to just flounder out while others got too outlandish as time went on. But there were certainly some character journeys that left fans with a big smile on their face and a warm feeling in their heart in only the way Parks and Recreation can deliver.
Mark
Many fans might not Mark very well despite him being a major part of the first two seasons. He was a city planner who Leslie had a crush on only for him to begin a relationship with Ann. However, the character never really found his place in the show and left in season 2.
Given the short time frame, Mark didn't have time to form much of an impactful arc. After Ann dumps him and the government shuts down, he decides to take a corporate job. However, he leaves on a sweet note, telling Leslie he would be more eager to stay in local government if there were more people like her in it.
Jamm
Though Parks and Rec is filled with lovable characters, Councilman Jamm made for a great villain who everyone loved to hate. He is a corrupt politician who always seeks to make a profit for himself rather than serve the citizens of Pawnee.
Throughout the series, Jamm serves as little more than an antagonist who stands in Leslie's way on many issues. It is not until his final appearance that he shows some growth when Leslie and Ron help him get out of a relationship with Tammy. This leads to Jamm burying the hatchet and hilariously itting Leslie is his best friend.
Bobby
One of the best guest stars on Parks and Rec was Paul Rudd as Bobby Newport, the son of a local business owner who becomes Leslie's opponent for the election for city council. But it is clear Bobby is there to serve the wishes of his family as he has no interest or skills for the job.
Bobby's childlike view of things is endearing and hilarious even as he acts incredibly immature. However, as the campaign goes on, he continues to show his sweet side, even openly rooting for Leslie at times. In the end, he loses to her and is seemingly thrilled to have the campaign over.
Jean-Ralphio
One of the scene-stealing secondary characters on Parks and Rec was Jean-Ralphio, Tom's best friend and a wannabe entrepreneur with no work ethic at all. He always brings so many laughs to every scene he is in even if he largely remains an immature adult.
Perhaps as part of his charm, Jean-Ralphio doesn't look to be changing any time soon. As the finale shows glimpses into various characters' futures, Jean-Ralphio appears to have died only to reveal he fakes his death for the insurance.
Craig
Craig was a rather late addition to the show but quickly proved himself as a great part of the ensemble. His aggressive attitude and huge dramatics ran the risk of growing tired very fast, but he ended up being a terrific new character.
Craig's ambitions end up going beyond the public service world as he becomes involved with Tom's restaurant business while also pursuing his love of singing. He eventually finds love and is married for many years. And while he finds happiness, he still finds plenty of things to still complain about as well.
Ann
Ann Perkins was one of the most important characters in the first season of the show as she was the person who challenged Leslie Knope to fix the vacant lot. She then became best friends with Leslie which made for a very charming relationship.
However, as time went on, the show seemed to run out of ideas of how to use Ann. With the other characters being such big personalities, Ann's persona as the level-headed voice of reason never really fit. After trying multiple ways to make her love life more interesting, the character left the show abruptly and it didn't really seem to make a difference.
Chris
Though he wasn't introduced until the end of the second season, Chris Traeger quickly became a very entertaining character due to Chris' endless inspiring quotes, positivity, and obsession with physical fitness. However, that joke started to wear thin over time and the show took the character in some disappointing new directions.
They started to explore the fragility of Chris's positive behavior as he kept getting his heart broken and would fall into states of depression that were just not very fun to witness. Eventually, he moved out of Pawnee to have a baby with Ann which seemed like a forced conclusion for the character.
Donna
Donna Meagle started out as one of the ing characters in the Parks Department, but her character soon grew and became an integral part of the main cast. In the earlier season, the show kept much of Donna's personal life a mystery and only hinted that she leads a pretty extravagant life with plenty of suitors.
The final season finds her embracing a real relationship and committing to domestic life. This just seemed unnecessary as Donna always seemed perfectly pleased with the single life and it just seemed to suggest she could only have a happy ending if she found the right man.
Andy
Andy Dwyer was another character who started off as a side character but eventually became a fan-favorite. He was always a very entertaining character thanks to his immaturity and his buffoonish behavior.
Andy's biggest character development comes in the third season when he starts dating and quickly marries April. Their relationship was sweet and made Andy a better character. Other than that, the show follows his various career paths and eventually having a child with April. But he doesn't undergo much more growth as a character.
April
April Ludgate was introduced as the cynical and dark-humored intern of the Parks Department who seemed totally uninterested in participating in the job. Over time, and with the encouragement of Leslie, she starts to take things more seriously. She also opens up to the people around her, making for some of the most unexpected friendships in Parks and Rec.
Like many of the other characters, April's career path is constantly changing throughout the show and what seems to be her true ion at one moment is then quickly forgotten. But regardless of her many jobs, it was nice seeing April become a more loving and open person as time went on.
